Conveyor mechanism for portable grinding mills



May 6, '1947. T. D. KIDD 2,420,247

CONVEYOR` MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE GRINDING'MILL Filed sept. 2o, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 Y QM 'T. D. KIDD 2,420,247 CONVEYQRIMECHANI'SM Fon PORTABLE GRINDING MILL May 1947.

Fild sept. 2o, 1944 2 sheets-'sheet z I gli E INVENTOR Tomzzf ylll/(idd BY www Patented May 6, 194? CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE GRINDIN G MILLS Thomas D. Kidd, Mendota, Ill., assignor of fifty one-hundredths to Ray reiser, Mendota, Ill.

Application September 20, 1944, Serial No. 554,941

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved portable grinding mill embodied in a wheeled implement adapted t be towed or transported by an automotive vehicle, as a farm tractor, which also furnishes power to operate the rotary grinding mill while the implement is stationary. The implement is especially designed for itinerant work, or custom grinding, where the mill is transported by the tractor from farm to farm, and Operated at stations convenient to the farmers.

To insure convenient and rapid transit, the tractor and wheeled implement are compactly hitched together; and to attain smooth transmission of power from theV stationary tractor and achieve efficient operation of the grinding mill, the power shaft of the tractor and the operating shaft of the grinding mill and its combined delivery-conveyor are exibly coupled together for cooperation.

The draft rigging, and the power transmission mechanism, between the tractor and the implement, are cc-crdinated for facile assembly of parts; for separate and alternate performance of their respective functions; and, when desirable, these essential parts may readily be disconnected for the purpose of detaching the wheeled implement from the tractor.

The invention consists essentially in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts, and one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly set forth in the specification and claims.

Figure l is a top plan view of the implement, indicating its relation to a tractor from which power is supplied, and showing the parts in operative position.

Figure 2 is aside elevation of the implement in Figure l, with parts in section, and other parts omitted for convenience of illustration.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional View showing the operation of the screw-conveyer, and its relation to the lateral outlet port and discharge chute of the grinding mill.

Figure 4 is a transverse Vertical sectional View, as at liine Il of Figure l, but showing the swiveled feed hopper turned at an angle of forty-uve degrees from the position of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing the swiveled arrangement of the feed hopper.

In the assembly views it will be seen that a rectangular main frame I is horizontally disposed and mounted on a transversely extending axle A, and the pair of supporting wheels W are journaled on the opposite ends of the axle, the frame and axle being rigidly joined or fastened together in suitable manner to support the operating parts of the implement.

The rotary grinding mill, which is of well known type, is bolted at its base 2 to the main frame I and arranged symmetrically over the axle, the intermediate cylinder 3 being provided with an inclined, lateral, chute I to receive ground material from the port I2, in the side wall of the cylinder.

The material to be ground is fed to the mill through the top rectangular feed hopper 5, which is preferably fashioned with an attached inclined trough or funnel 6, and a hinged top or lid i giving convenient access to the interior of the mill.

As best seen in Figure 5, the feed hopper is swiveled upon the top of the cylinder 3, through the instrumentality of a swivel ring 8 that is bolted at S to the cylinder and overlaps an exterior annular ange I fashioned at the open bottom of the feed hopper. The swiveled hopper may be manually turned or rotatably adjusted to `different positions, as indicated in Figures 1 and 4, in order to facilitate feeding operations when the implement is stationary. When the implement is to be towed by the tractor, or otherwise transported, the swiveled hopper is adjusted to desired position for properly locating the center of gravity of the wheeled implement.

The upright spindle and grinding elements, or mill-stones, within the mill (but not shown) are rotated through transmission means by the horizontal, longitudinally extending operating shaft I I which passes through and is journaled in bearings in the base of the mill. The ground material flows through the outlet port I2 and down the discharge chute 5 to a screw conveyer, which is located at one side of the implement, and adjustable in a vertical plane to convey the ground material and deliver it to a storage bin or other receptacle.

As here shown the conveyer includes a cylindrical tube or spout of convenient length, as I3, which is journaled in bearings as I at its lower end on an auxiliary shaft I5 disposed parallel with the operating shaft II of the mill. The auxiliary shaft is journaled in bearing brackets I6 that are bolted to the main frame I, and located at opposite front and rear sides of the lower end of the delivery spout I3.

The adjustable spout may be swung in a vertical plane through an arc toward and away from the mill, with the auxiliary shaft i5 as its pivot, and when so adjusted, as in Figure 4, it

may be retained in desired position by any suitable fastening means, as for instance, a chain I1 which is anchored at I8 near the outer end of the conveyer, and with its inner end coupled to a hook I3 attached to the mill. For transportation purposes the conveyer is swung over into proximity with the mill, and then fastened to the mill by the chain in appropriate manner. The utility of the chain is best illustrated in Figure 4, but it is omitted from Figures l and 2 in the interest of clearness, or clarity.

The lower end of the spout or pipe I3 is closed by a transverse plate 26, and the ground grain flows into the collection space or chamber formed by this plate from the discharge chute Il, through an intake port 2l (Fig. 3), where the ground material is picked up by a spiral conveyer, or screw 22 that revolves with its shaft 23. The shaft 23, which extends throughout the length of the conveyer spout I3, is journaled in end bearings 24 and 25 of the spout, and power is transmitted to the lower end of the shaft 23 from the operating shaft i through a bevel gear couple 26-21 between the two shafts.

The milled grain is conveyed through the interior of the delivery spout I3, and discharged through an outlet trough 28 at the upper end of the spout, for delivery into a bin or other suitable storage receptacle.

Power for operating the auxiliary shaft and the screw conveyer may be transmitted from the operating shaft Il in any suitable manner, as by means of a drive wheel 29 on shaft II, a wheel 3D on the auxiliary shaft, and a conventional drive belt EI.

In Figures 1 and 2 a tractor is indicated, to furnish power for operating the implement, and also to provide means for towing or transporting the wheeled implement from one farm, or place of operation, to another place for operation. The draft gear and the power transmitting means between the tractor and the wheeled implement are combined and arranged in such manner as to simplify and facilitate smooth performance in the functions of the operating parts of the mill; and to insure safety, reliability, and convenience and steering and maneuvering the tractor and implement while the latter is being transported.

The power transmission means between the tractor and the implement comprises a flexible, telescopic, coupling, including a rear universal joint 32 and a front universal joint 33, the latter being coupled with the power shaft (ill of the tractor, which shaft is shown journaled in bearings 35. The rear universal joint 32 is an extension of the operating shaft I I and is journaled in a bearing 36 on themain frame I of the implement. The intermediate portion of the flexible shaft between the two universal joints includes two telescopic sections 31 and 38, and an emergency pin 39 is indicated as joining two parts of the flexible shaft, i. e., section 38 and joint 32. This pin is designed to be broken under excessive strains or shocks imposed on the flexible shafts, thus preserving the shaft against breakage of more important parts. The universal joints and the telescopic sections of the flexible shaft compensate for and absorb lost motions encountered in transmission of power, and in transportation of the implement, and power is transmitted from the tractor through the flexible shaft to the implement with uniformity and eiliciency.

The draft rigging between the tractor and the wheeled implement includes a flexible coupling located beneath the flexible shaft and in the same vertical plane therewith with co-axial pivotal connections, in order that the implement, while being towed, may swing without danger of breaking the transmission couplings and the draft couplings. For this purpose, the main frame is provided with radius bars 4S, 40, forming a converging extension provided with a joint plate 43 and clevis 4d, for the main coupling pin 45. The pin 45 is passed through a link 4I, which is ilexibly coupled with a part of the tractor by coupling pin 42.

It will be seen that the coupling pin d5, forming one of the flexible connections of the draft rigging, is located directly below the universal joint 33 of the flexible power transmission shaft to insure co-action, as described, with the flexible shaft, in compensating for irregularities encoun tered while towing the implement.

While I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in the exemplifying drawings, without departing from the principles involved in the appended claims.

A conventional form of rotary grinding mill, employing the well known interior upright spindle and grinding stones or burrs, is illustrated and has been described, for milling wheat, oats, and other grains, but it will be understood the invention may readily be adapted for use with different types of rotary grinding mills for milling other materials.

In this specific embodiment of the invention, the close-coupled, short-turning, and compactly arranged appliance, as a whole, may readily be backed with the mill in position to receive the material from the farmers grain supply, and to convey and deliver the milled material, rapidly, to a storage receptacle or bin, at the convenience of the farmer.

The swiveled feed hopper with its trough may be swung into close proximity to the grain cribs or bins in order that the grain may be shoveled directly to the trough and then uniformly fed to the mill, with minimum labor, and without loss of time.

The screw conveyor may also be quickly adjusted, and held in proper position to receive the milled material and deliver it directly to a storage receptacle, thus dispensing with the service of laborers in storing the products of the mill.

The mechanical devices employed in the power transmission mechanism, in the draft rigging or appliance, and in the auxiliary operating mechanism, as here shown, cooperate and coact to secure smooth performance of their functions, but under some conditions changes may be made in these combinations and arrangements of parts, to meet other requirements.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a grinding mill, the combination with a lower operating shaft and drive means therefor, an upper horizontally swiveled feed hopper, and a lateral discharge port and chute, of an auxiliary driven shaft and power transmission means between said shaft and the operating shaft, a screw conveyer having an intake end co-acting with the chute and pivotally supported on the auxiliary shaft, and a bevel gear-couple between the auxiliary shaft and the screw conveyer.

2. In a grinding mill, the combination of a feed hopper adjustable in a horizontal plane, a

xed lateral discharge port and chute from the mill, a lower operating shaft and drive means therefore, an auxiliary shaft and transmission means between said shaft and the operating shaft, a conveyer spout pivotally supported on the auxiliary shaft and having an intake co-acting with the chute, a screw-conveyer within the spout, and power transmission means between the auxiliary shaft and screw conveyer.v

3. In a grinding mill the combination of a swiveled feed hopper, a xed lateral discharge port and chute, a vertically adjustable conveyer spout pivotally mounted adjacent the chute with its intake port in position to receive ground material from the chute, a lower operating shaft, a conveyor in the conveyor spout, a drive shaft for said conveyor extending across the lower end of the spout and forming a pivotal support therefor, and power transmission means connecting said shafts.

4. The combination in a portable grinding mill having a xed discharge chute, a main frame and a longitudinal operating shaft journaled thereon, of a screw discharge conveyer pivotally sup--v ported on the main frame and having an intake port projecting laterally therefrom around the chute to coact with said chute, power transmission means between the operating shaft and said conveyer and a pivotal support for said conveyor comprising a shaft forming part of said power transmission means.

THOMAS D. KIDD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Form 560 of Pioneer Gravel Equipment Mfg. Co., 1515 Central Ave., Minneapolis, Minn., en-

titled Bring the Crusher to the rock with the Pioneer Crusher Trailer, page 4. 

